WASHINGTON—Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson – Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee – highlighted the inclusion of $12.2 million for State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) for the cities of Island Park, Preston, Rexburg, and Pocatello, Idaho, at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF) in the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. 

Despite claims that CPF projects are "wasteful earmarks," Community Project Funding gives Members of Congress like Congressman Simpson the opportunity to bring Idaho tax dollars back home for Idaho priorities. These projects fill a clear and present need in communities across Idaho and enjoy broad community support. The federal dollars designated for CPF projects exist within existing budget limits. Rather than that money going to fund projects in different states, CPF projects give Idahoans a critical voice in determining where budgeted funding goes.

“STAG funding is a great way to help our local communities improve their water systems and treatment capabilities,” said Rep. Simpson. “As Idaho's only appropriator, it is my honor and responsibility to advocate for Idaho and ensure our state's priorities are heard. I am proud to partner with the cities of Island Park, Preston, Rexburg, and Pocatello, and produce meaningful results for our communities.”

Island Park: 

This funding includes $1,750,000 and will be used to construct a new single municipal water system in Island Park, Idaho, to replace numerous disparate small systems. Funding would cover a new well, water storage tank, and booster pump station; 8,500 linear feet of water main; nearly 200 service lines with meters; and a SCADA system for monitoring and control of the water system. Island Park, a gateway community to Yellowstone National Park, currently has over 50 separate public water systems, many of which have experienced multiple instances of bacterial contamination over the past several decades due to the geology and environment. Replacing these many small, inadequate systems with one municipal system with access to deeper aquifers, guarantee a year-round water supply, and reduce the risk of further contamination caused by the number of individual holes drilled into the aquifer. 

“The City of Island Park and the community known as Island Park has many challenges with the current water systems. We are very happy to work with Congressmen Mike Simpson and his staff on trying to correct this problem for the Macks Inn area. With out there help and support I don't know how it would ever happen. We hope that this Model will be a start for other areas in the future. I have worked with Congressman Simpson before and have always received great support for the citizens of east Idaho,” said Island Park Mayor Bruce Ard.

Preston:  

This funding includes $3,750,000 and will be used to build a new water storage tank in Preston, Idaho. Preston’s water is currently delivered to the city from a mountain spring through a 14-mile pipeline. The community has experienced two water line breaks in the past year, resulting in an inadequate water supply for residential use and emergency services, including fire protection. This project would ensure the community has the reliable and sufficient water they need now and into the future. 

“As the Mayor of the City of Preston, I wanted to formally express our appreciation to Congressman Mike Simpson’s office for diligently working to obtain Grant financing for Preston City drinking water enhancement,” said Preston Mayor Dan Keller. “We are aware that Congressman Simpson has been working on this grant application for over two years! We are so appreciative of the Congressman’s personal tenacity, experience, and understanding of our community’s need for additional drinking water storage.”

“We thank Representative Simpson for his work in getting us funding to complete a new water tank,” said Community Development Director Shawn Oliverson. “Preston City is facing a variety of issues as it grows, and the expense of improving vital infrastructure is a great hindrance as we try to plan for the future. Funding this project with $3.75 million will go a long way to help our current and future residents. There's no way we could have moved forward without your help.”

“The funding for the new water storage tank is a pivotal development for our community,” said City Engineer Tyrell Simpson. “It represents a significant investment in our collective well-being and the sustainability of our environment. This tank will ensure a reliable supply of clean water, which is essential not only for daily life but also for emergency preparedness. The new tank will get the City of Preston where it needs to be for water storage. Your willingness to invest in such a vital resource is deeply appreciated by all of us. Thank you for your kindness and for enabling us to continue our work more efficiently.”

“I would like to share my appreciation and thank Representative Simpson for pressing forward the funding opportunity for the City of Preston's water project,” said Executive Director of Four County Alliance of Southeast Idaho Molly Beseris. “Upgrading current fresh drinking water systems has been a priority to sustain the growth of Preston. The funding of this water tank will support this community and its citizens for generations to come.” 

Rexburg: 

This funding includes $5,000,543 and will be used to upgrade the Headworks facility at the City of Rexburg Wastewater Treatment Plant and replace the regional sewer interceptor, lift station, and pressure sewer line that convey wastewater from northeast Rexburg and the towns of Sugar City and Teton to the treatment plant. The sewer lines and lift stations are shared by all three communities and are approaching capacity, have serious corrosion issues, and are in need of replacement. The current Headworks is not large enough to reliably treat current and future flows. This project would ensure that the system can both meet current needs and be prepared for projected growth in this area. 

“We are so appreciative of Congressman Simpson’s help on securing funding for the Rexburg area Wastewater Treatment System upgrade. With our city’s rapid growth, it has been a struggle trying to find enough cash in our annual budget to accomplish this vital project and keep up with the many other demands that growth causes. Congressman Simpson has been a great ally to us in Congress to get a significant share of taxpayer monies returned to this area to help cover the cost of upgrading our wastewater headworks facility,”  said Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill. 

Pocatello:

This funding includes $1,750,000 and will be used to install approximately one mile of gravity sewer main within the City of Pocatello, which would provide the backbone needed to extend service to the City’s sewer system to the Johnny Creek area of Pocatello. This area is made up of about 850 residences, about 220 of which are not connected to the municipal sewer system. A significant number of these homes have failed or failing septic systems, and more failures are expected until this part of the community can be connected to a new, modern municipal sewer system. This funding will complete phase one of the larger project. 

“Study after study has concluded that we have to transition decades old septic systems for the approximately 200 homes in our Johnny Creek neighborhood to the City's modern municipal wastewater system,” said Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad. “The funding secured by Congressman Simpson will allow us to finally cost-effectively kick off this effort.  Once again Congressman Simpson has delivered critical infrastructure funding for our community and, once again, all of Pocatello is grateful.”

As Idaho’s only appropriator, Rep. Simpson has a unique opportunity to fight for Idaho’s priorities and ensure Idahoans’ hard-earned tax dollars return to Idaho. Rep. Simpson was the only member of the Idaho delegation to vote in favor of funding for these water systems.